2006 Highlights

ok... i have been thinking about 2006, and i will be honest, i am not sad to see it go... however, we did have some good times too.

so, here are our hightlights from 2006!

i was given a new church assignment to work with the youth. it was great to get to know these wonderful girls! i was able to go to "girls camp". it was amazing and i am very grateful that i was able to go. i have made friends, young and "old" alike, that i will cherish forever!

i learned how to crochet and made my very first potholder/washcloth thingy!

sam, my little brother, lived with us for most of the year and we sure had fun! great memories that i will cherish forever! thanks sam!

mom was able to come up to logan and visit this year! ya rah!

i did lots of traveling with creating keepsakes. i was able to travel to: st. louis, missouri; kansas city, kansas; manchester, new hampshire and nashville, tennesee. i have made fabulous friends and i am honored to know each and every one of them!

i was also able to travel with scrapbookpal.com ! they are on online store that sells a little bit of everything for scrapbooking, and they have the best prices for adhesive! i went to phoenix, arizona and seattle, washington with them! i am hoping to travel quite a bit more for them in 2007!

i love the month of october. it is my birthday month! kevin took me to salt lake city for the weekend of my birthday this year! we had a great time!

while i was in new hampshire for a ck show, i was able to fly out a week early and spend some time with my dad in connecticut! we had a great time and did lots of fun stuff! i got to see my brother, marcus and his mom margaret too! this was a fantastic trip that i hope to do again really soon!

kevin changed jobs again... big surprise i know! i call it his 8 month itch! i am hoping that he will keep his new job at LeGrande Johnson Construction for more than 8 months! it seems to be a good place to be that treats their employees well. beside the fact that he was layed off the week after thanksgiving. :( he is doing well at being my "house husband" and i am very proud of him.

kevin had a fun year filled with getting lots of new "toys"! some of his new collections include:

a new bike, psp (play station portable)- complete with games, carrying case and fun accessories!, and a new top of the line phone! he is quite spoiled! good thing he is cute!

august was a hard month for us, but before the craziness hit, we had a great visit from ann's , my best friend, mom! she flew in for ann's birthday and we had a blast! one of the highlights of the weekend was going up logan canyon and having a picnic. ann, julie, maryann, mom, sam and kevin and i had a really great time!

october also brought extreme makeover: home edition to logan utah! what a fun week that was! it aired on 11/26/06 and was incredible!

i also discovered my new favorite sweet treat! candy cane kisses! yummy!

happy new year everyone! i just toasted in 2007 with my sweetheart and a glass of sparking cider! may this new year be filled with health, love, laughter and happiness!

Happy New Year! 2007!!

Christmas Memories 2006

i love this time of year... i really do... but i have to admit... i am always a little relieved to have it done too. we really are blessed. we were surrounded by family and friends this year.

here are a few of our pictures to help remember this fun time of year... my mom came up for christmas eve's eve. we all had a great time looking at christmas lights, eating scones, watching christmas movies, drinking hot chocolate and shopping! we had so much fun! oh... did i forget?... we at turkey dinner too!
on christmas eve my best friend, ann, and her roommate, (and our friend) julie came over for dinner, presents and a fun new game. yes... the title of "sweets and snacks superstar" belongs to annie! she is a "SUPERSTAR"!

we sure laughed a lot and learned all we ever wanted to know ( and more ) about cookies, candy, ice cream and desserts, chocolate and snacks! good thing "that was easy!"


kevin and i had a nice quiet christmas at home. it was fun to relax and enjoy just being home.
kevin spoiled me rotten this christmas. what a good man i married!

we had a great christmas! the only thing missing was my little brother, sam. we love you sam! and miss you tons!

merry christmas to all and to all a good night...

Tis the Season!

I love this wonderful time of year! Nothing makes me feel more in the spirit than good old fashioned Christmas Concert!

So far I have gone to 2! Every year for the last 11 years I have gone to Michael McLean's Fogotten Carols. Deseretbook.com It is truly the start of the season when I go!

Tonight we went to the Voicemale concert. They are 6 guys who sing accapella. Awesome! They have so much fun on stage! It is so entertaining to go! voicemalemusic.com

I have been quite stressed the last few weeks, but I am finally seeing the light at the end of the tunnel! I am hoping that the lights are Christmas lights, cuz they are my favorite!

Merry Christmas everyone... May your season be filled with love and laughter... that is what it is all about...

jen

Happy Birthday Kevin!

Today is Kevin's 30th Birthday! Wahoo!

Blow out the Candles and Make a Wish! Today is ALL ABOUT YOU!

Here is my sweetheart in the beginning...

Indiana Facts

many of you may or may not know, but i was born in indiana! it is a very special place to me. my mom grew up there and we have family there still. my uncle steve, his wife paula and their 3 great kids, carrie, mike and thomas.

when my uncle sent me and email with this info, i couldn't help but post it. so enjoy a bit of history about my favorite state!

Indiana Facts

Tomato juice was first served at a French Lick Hotel in 1925. The first tomato juice factory was also in French Lick, IN.

The world's largest orchid species collection is found at Ball State University in Muncie, Indiana.

The first regulated speed limit on Indiana roads was initiated in 1921. 20 - 25 mph!!

An average of 400 funnel clouds are sighted each year in Indiana.

The city of Gary, Indiana, was built on fill brought from the bottom of Lake Michigan through suction pipes.

There are only two Adams fireplaces in the United States. One is in the White House and the other in the Diner Home in Indiana.

Josie Orr, wife of former Indiana Governor Robert Orr, flew bombers and cargo planes during World War II.

The Indianapolis Methodist Hospital is the largest Hospital in the Midwest.

One of the first complete bathrooms in Indianapolis was in the home of Hoosier poet, James Whitcomb Riley.

The career of Dorothy Lamour (famous for the Crosby-Hope Road Movies) was launched in Indianapolis.

Aviatrix Amelia Earhart was once a Professor at Purdue University.

Crown Hill Cemetery (Indianapolis) is the largest cemetery in the U.S.

The library in Fort Wayne, Allen County, Indiana houses one of the largest genealogy libraries in America.

Wabash, Indiana was the first electrified city in the U.S.

Pendleton, Indiana was the site of the first hanging of a white man for killing Indians.

The Courthouse roof in Greensburg, Indiana has a tree growing from it.

The world's first transistor radio was made in Indianapolis.

Clark Gable and wife Carole Lombard (a Hoosier) honeymooned at Lake Barbee near Warsaw, Indiana.

The American Beauty Rose was developed at Richmond, Indiana.

Elkhart, Indiana is the band instrument capitol of the World.

Frank Sinatra first sang with the Tommy Dorsey band at the Lyric Theater in Indianapolis.

Purdue Alumnus, Earl Butz, served as the Secretary of Agriculture.

U.S. 231 is the longest highway in Indiana (231miles).

Johnny Appleseed is buried at Fort Wayne, Indiana.

The singing McGuire Sisters spent their childhood summers at the Church of God Campground in Anderson, Indiana.

The main station of the Underground Railroad was in Fountain County, Indiana.

There are 154 acres of sculpture gardens and trails at the Indianapolis Museum of Art.

La Porte County is the only county in America having 2 functioning Courthouses. I think we can add Vanderburgh County in with that also.

Nancy Hanks Lincoln is buried in Posey County,Indiana.

Crawfordsville, Indiana (Montgomery County) and the Falls of the Ohio State park in southern Ind. are the only sites in the World where crinoids are found. (What is a crinoid, you ask? A form of deep-water marine life that looks something like a starfish.)

Pendleton, Indiana was the site of the 'Fall Creek Massacre.' A museum housing 3500 artifacts of pioneer heritage now exists on that site.

St. Meinrad Archabbey is located in Spencer County and is one of only 2 archabbeys in the U.S. and seven in the world. (Abbey Press is an operation of the archabbey.)

A Buzz Bomb (German - WWII), believed to be the only one on public display in the nation, can be found on the Putnam County Courthouse lawn in Greencastle.

Roberta Turpin Willett was born in Indiana.

Red Skelton was born in Vincennes, Indiana.

May West was from Bedford, Indiana. (as was Claude Akins)

Forrest Tucker(actor) was from Pendleton, Indiana.

You can't ship wine to Indiana. (So how does it get here???????)

Bob Greise is from Evansville, Indiana. (Purdue boy)

Toni Tenille (of The Captain and Tenille) is from Indiana.

Oprah Winfrey built her residence in Indiana.

Florence Henderson is from Indiana.

John Mellancamp is a Hoosier and resides in Bloomington.

The much sought-after Hoosier Cabinets are an Indiana product.

90% of the world's popcorn is grown in Indiana.

The Jackson Five are from Indiana as well as 'Super Fan' Russ McLeod.

The birthplace of the automobile, the pneumatic rubber tire, the aluminum casting process, stainless steel and the first push-button car radio was in Kokomo, Indiana.

fun, huh?

jen

holiday quiz...

Welcome to the 2006 Holiday Edition of Getting to Know Your Friends!
1. Egg Nog or Hot Chocolate?
hot chocolate... i usually have some every night during the winter! love it! even started collecting mugs because i drink it so often!

2. Does Santa wrap presents or just sit them under the tree?
santa usually wraps everything... unless it is big... then it is just next to the tree with a tag... to:jennie love, santa

3. Colored lights on tree/house or white?
usually colored lights, but this year i tried just white... we'll see...

4. Do you hang mistletoe?
not usually... i have this little holly leaf decoration that i pretend is mistletoe by hanging it in the doorway.

5. When do you put your decorations up?
usually thanksgiving day after dinner. and they stay up until january 10th- my brothers birthday

6. What is your favorite holiday dish (excluding dessert).
i love pull-a-part bread for christmas morning...

7. Favorite Holiday memory as a child:
it was always such a magical time. we would turn out all of the lights and listen to christmas music, sipping on hot chocolate while watching the beautiful tree!

8. When and how did you learn the truth about Santa?
6 or 7 i was devastated! a girl at school told me and i argued with her.. i ran home from school and told my mom what she said... she reluctantly told me that the girl was wrong.. how rude of that girl!

9. Do you open a gift on Christmas Eve?
most of the time... now as i am older we don't really

10. How do you decorate your Christmas Tree?
lots of lights and millions of ornaments. every ornament on my tree has a story... i really should count of them some day...

11. Snow! Love it or Dread it?
is hate too strong of a word? well... i don't mind it on christmas eve and all day christmas day... but after that i want is GONE!

12. Can you ice skate?
not so much...

13. Do you remember your favorite gift?
i will never forget when i was kindergarten i got this beautiful little homemade doll... i was so proud of it... when i took it to school all of the other girls has these fancy dolls that did all kinds of crazy things... i didn't care... i was in love with my doll.

14. What's the most important thing about the Holidays for you?
i love the feeling that in with it... being with family and friends... finding the right gift for everyone on my list... remembering my savior...

15. What is your favorite Holiday Dessert?
my mom used to make these christmas wreaths out of corn flakes, marshmellows and red hots . kinda like a rice crispy treat... i loved them...

16. What is your favorite holiday tradition?
decorating... christmas dinner on christmas eve, white stocking with our gift to christ... lots and lots

17. What tops your tree?
i have a lace angel that i have forever..

18. Which do you prefer giving or Receiving?
you will never see me turn down a gift... but i truly love to give gifts.. i love to see faces light up...

19. What is your favorite Christmas Song?
i love just about all of them... one of my new favorites is "mary, did you know?"

20. Candy Canes! Yuck or Yum?
yummy... you have to try the new candy candy kisses by hershey...!!!!!!

Have fun with this... Now you know me a little better. Happy Holidays!!!

grilled cheese and pastrami sandwiches!

have you tried them? they are so tasty! really good with nacho cheese doritoes on the side. they are our new favs!

give it a try... and let me know how you like them...

jen

we made up a little jingle for grilled cheese and pastrami sandwiches... now it is in my head!

grilled cheese and pastrami sandwiches
grilled cheese and pastrami sandwiches
grilled cheese and pastrami sandwiches
grilled cheese and pastrami sandwiches
grilled cheese and pastrami sandwiches

hee hee... is it in your head too?

Did you like it?

i am on such a high after watching EM:HE last night! it was great to be part of such an amazing thing! i was bummed we didn't get to see the back yard though! i heard that they have a new rocking fire pit! i can only imagine how beautiful it must be!

kevin and i just put plastic on our living room window. we were starting to get a big storm while we were doing it and it was quite the adventure! the plastic was blowing everywhere while i was trying so hard to get it straight!

happy winter! i believe it has begun!

have a great night!
jen

 

EXTREME MAKEOVER: HOME EDITION!

I AM SOOOOOOOOOOOOOO EXCITED TO SEE THE AIRING OF EXTREME MAKEOVER: HOME EDITION TONIGHT! IT IS THE LOGAN UTAH EPISODE WITH THE PAUNI FAMILY!

EVERYONE TUNE IN AND WATCH! ABC NETWORK, TONIGHT, SUNDAY 11/26/2006!

LET ME KNOW WHAT YOU THINK...

JEN

Happy Thanksgiving!

hello friends and family!

we have so much to be thankful for this year. first of all, my family. i am so grateful for the close bond that i have with my brother, sam. he is one of my greatest friends, not only my brother. i love my husband, kevin. and of course my cute mommy, sally. friendships are very important to me... ann is my very best friend and i am forever grateful for her friendship.

i am so blessed to have such a wonderful family and support system! thanks to all of you...

jen

the day has arrived! Sunday, 22 October!

this was fun! my mom had come up to spend the weekend with me, so when she got here on sunday i asked here how she felt about waiting from 10 am - 2 pm for the reveal of the house! she said that she was up for it, so off we went!

we left my house about 10 am and went to ann and julies house. we all drove up together so we could get a good spot to watch the excitement begin.

we arrived across the street about 10:30 am and began the wait. we could tell that there were going to be tons of people, so we chose a spot in the back of the area, that way we could have the advantage of being "tall". we stood on buckets (from home), a step stool, a chair and a couple of rocks for about 3 hours!

it was so great! of course when the family arrived we no longer could see anything. not even the gigantic home that was across the street! but the excitment was worth it! we got to see ty pennington!!!!!!!!!!

we bought some tee-shirts and even had ed sign them! what a great day!

look for the episode to air the end of november or first part of december! the pauni family from logan, utah!

here is the log from the kartchnerhomes.com site:

We couldn’t have asked for a better grand finale – a picture-perfect blue sky, a completed home, more than 3,000 enthusiastic spectators, and a family thunderstruck by the outpouring of love and support.
Loyal friends and fans gathered six or more hours before the “reveal” to get that coveted front row seat. The crowd was cheery and loud – a sharp difference from the typical peaceful Sunday morning in a Cache Valley neighborhood.
Relatives of the Pauni family – sporting the family T-shirts that have become the big fashion craze in Cache Valley this weekend – filled a bleacher section reserved just for them. In fact, spectators throughout the crowd wore their T-shirts with the simple black-and-white photo design featuring the Pauni family.
Today was as much a celebration of Tongan culture as anything else as dancers of all ages and drummers delighted the crowds just before the Pauni family arrived for the big moment. The sun-warmed street must have been much appreciated by the bare-chested boys and men, and bare-footed dancers.
Everyone in the cast was there to greet the family – Ty, Tracy, Preston, Ed and Tanya – along with the Kartchner Homes build team. The Pauni family emerged triumphantly from their limousine and the crowd noise was spectacular. The children jumped and hugged each other, the little five-year-old boy busted out his dance moves, and tears filled the eyes not just of Janet, the mother, but of many of the spectators.
The emotional pitch intensified when everybody shouted the trademark, “Move that bus!”
The reveal certainly did not disappoint – You’ll see all of the action when the episode airs (trust us: you won’t want to miss this!). The family was more than anxious to tour their new home and we hope nobody got lost in their first trip. (Again, you’ll have to tune into the episode to see exactly how beautiful this home is.)
The marathon efforts – all the sweat and tears, the sleepless nights, the planning, and prayers – paid off today in a wonderful outpouring of love and generosity. Cache Valley will long remember this week. The felling here today was the icing on the cake
“This will be a lifetime change,” Janet Pauni said. Indeed, not just for her family but for our entire community. Thank you, Cache Valley!

Saturday, 21 October

here is the log from kartchnerhomes.com site:

It’s Saturday night and, as scheduled, the Pauni home is complete. Kartchner Homes actually accomplished the task a bit ahead of this amazing timeline – about six hours so! Landscapers, helped along by students from Utah State University’s landscape architecture program, worked through last night and, by this morning, crowned the new home with a magnificent yard. By the afternoon, furniture was being brought into the home. Now, we’re nearly ready to welcome the Pauni family back to Logan!
Surprise, awe, wonder and pride have filled many moments this week, but today even many of us who just have learned about this special family in a matter of a few days were touched by the strong emotional ties that have sustained this family through happy and sad moments. Though the Pauni family has been far away this week, many relatives have volunteered at the site each day, bringing their friends as well. In the Tongan heritage, everybody becomes family.
As the finishing touches were being placed on the new home, we met with Milo, the sister of the late Danny Pauni, the much beloved father and husband of the family. Milo traveled nearly 90 miles from Salt Lake to Logan to see the home. The sight of this new home – which will be complete once her sister-in-law and the children return tomorrow – brought her to tears.
“I have been very close to my sister-in-law through her struggles. I have helped her as much as I can. This is such a blessing for her family and mine,” Milo said.
We’ve come to learn so much about the Pauni family this week but Milo shed light on what it really means to be family. Love truly goes well beyond the comforting boundaries of a house. The eldest son of the Pauni family was serving a mission for the Church of Jesus Christ of the Latter-Day Saints when his father died suddenly in 2004. The son had decided to return home to help his mother make financial ends meet. At the same time, Milo’s son was about to be released from his military obligations. Milo’s son committed more time to the military to help ease the burden for Janet Pauni and her family and to allow the oldest son to finish his LDS mission.
Milo’s words of grace and love have resonated with us. This new home will not only bless the Danny and Janet Pauni family but these blessings will extend to all those who have helped this family. Kartchner Homes, along with the community in Cache Valley, have eased the burden off many shoulders this week. We are fortunate indeed to share in this most powerful and sustainable meaning of family.
“I did not expect to see this big beautiful home. I cannot describe how grateful we are. We will never be able to repay this,” Milo said. “I have never seen anything so amazing in my whole life.”
The past week has been an unforgettable experience for us in Cache Valley. Even more significant than the opportunity to be involved with a nationally popular television show, we have learned what the gifts of grace and love really are. We have seen so many step forward, offering selflessly their time, their skills and their resources. For many, the ordinary time of business stopped temporarily because we believed that community service offers the greatest rewards. And, we still need you. This unprecedented project has involved more people in Cache Valley than any other activity in recent memory but we want to ensure that the Pauni family can move forward, free finally of the struggles that they have faced so graciously.
“We have done everything humanly possible,” Nate Webb, escrow officer of Cache Title Company and director of donations for the project, said. “We have exhausted every outlet we know. If you have the ability to donate, please come forward. We need you.”
The Pauni Family is anxious to return and to thank their neighbors and friends, old and new. Milo said, “we came over here from the little island of Tonga to such a nice place and we have received so many blessings. Thank you, thank you, thank you.”
And, we thank you for your continuing support

Friday, 20 October

ann, julie, kevin and i went down to the house site after dinner friday night. it was amazing how much had been done since i was there the previous morning! i am sooo impressed with all of those who put their own lives on hold to help the pauni family. i am very blessed to live in such a great community.

here is the log for friday's activities from the kartchnerhomes.com site:

OK, we’re just a day and half away from (drum roll please) … “Move that bus!”
Autumn in Cache Valley can be unpredictable and last night, workers battled through a pretty significant rainstorm that persisted occasionally into this afternoon. But, apparently, everything is still going as scheduled in this carefully choreographed ballet of How to Build a Dream Home in Just One Week. Hey, at least, it wasn’t snow! (Yes, we have had white Halloweens.)
Remember when just three days ago, the Pauni home was demolished. Well, today, we can give you a brief perspective on what has happened since our unforgettable “Braveheart” moment Tuesday. And, most importantly, keep in mind that speed is nowhere near as critical as the attention to quality, which Kartchner Homes has insisted on maintaining in this project. How they have managed to orchestrate these continuously rotating crews of skilled trades and crafts workers is almost beyond comprehension. And, to make it even more impressive, that they have managed to accomplish this with the most rigorous safety standards possible.
Let’s start with the foundation. Usually the foundation is poured and the framing usually starts no earlier than five days afterward. For this project, they waited just four hours. The cement they pour is an eight-bag mix, which basically means the substance is thicker and more condensed. By the way, calcium is added into the mix to quicken the cure time. Pretty ingenious and in just about 3½ percent of the time!
Next, came the framework. On a house of this size (hint: tune into the episode to find out just how large it really is), framing would normally take three weeks. So, how long did it take to frame the new Pauni family home? Only 19 hours! (Today’s homework: Calculate the percentage of time saved.)
Then, the home’s exterior became the focus. Spectators have been cooing about the beautiful masonry and copper touches (more about those later). The masonry for this size of a home would typically take two to three weeks but this EXTREME crew did it in … you guessed it, 12 hours. How is that possible!? “We had 50 people working on the rock work at the same time and those guys flew through it,” Craig Saunders, Kartchner Homes’ construction project manager, said.
With every feature, there is beauty and function. The copper roofing, for example, is perfect for Utah homes because the roof allows snow to slip and melt off slowly and avoids possible roof leaks or cave-ins resulting from large piles of snow sitting on the surfaces.
Sheet rocking a house of these dimensions also is no small task. This process may require two-and-a-half weeks as it must be hung, mudded, textured, sanded, dried and painted. For this EXTREME MAKEOVER: HOME EDITION project, builders completed this assignment in just eight hours!
Today, spectators saw a lot of the crew working to shingle the home. The shingles took 14 hours, again a job that generally takes two to three days.Painting also was scheduled to be finished today but below-normal temperatures and the rain-chilled air hampered the ideal drying time for paint. The good news is that sunshine is expected to return tomorrow to Logan, and, particularly, for the big reveal on Sunday. Oh … To paint a home of this size it would normally take about three weeks. These dedicated and well-coordinated crews, however, accomplished the job within eight hours.The finishing work on a new home is normally quite tedious because it usually takes a month to complete. This phase includes the wood trimming of baseboards and doors aswell as the doorframes, molding and all of the cabinetry. The wood was pre-stained and cabinetry pre-made, so this task took the construction crew about three and a half hours.All of the plumbing, electrical and heating regularly would be finished in one week's time. For this EXTREME MAKEOVER: HOME EDITION project, it was about 10 hours! The wood floors in this home took only six and a half hours.Keep in mind, however, that these amazing statistics of speed are only possible because Kartchner Homes has worked tirelessly with the Cache Valley construction industry to assemble countless scores of skilled workers who know in their hearts and minds why working together for a good community cause can happen in projects like these.Like these hardy construction crews, don't let a rainy day get you down and we hope that you can still join us in contributing to this spectacular community project.

Thursday, 19 October

i was able to be a VIP this morning! it was sooooo fun! i saw ed sanders... he said hi to ME! really, i was the only one around and he looked straight at me and said hello! i took lots of pics!

here is thursday's log from kartchnerhomes.com:

Hey, Cache Valley and loyal fans of the show, the Pauni house is quickly transforming into a home. The framing was completed late last night. The early morning hours were spent putting the siding, rock and wood on the exterior of the home.
Beginning at 4 this afternoon, 80 Utah State University landscape architecture students will donate their time and skills to create a gorgeous yard fit to compliment this dream home. And, like the construction crews, they will accomplish in two days what it usually takes three weeks to finish.
Designer Ed Sanders had a lot to say about the family, the community and the home. Asked about his favorite aspect of the show, Ed said that “It’s hard to say. There are so many, but, first, it’s about the family. However, we could not do this without the volunteers.”
Ed added that “of the eighty some ‘Extreme Makeover: Home Edition’ episodes,” Logan, Utah is only the second city to throw a benefit concert for the family. This is just another way for a community to show its support for its well-deserving neighbors.
When we asked Ed if there was anything in particular about this episode that sets it apart from the rest, he said that “the sheer size and scope of this beautiful house makes this episode stand out.”
"Kartchner Homes has gone above and beyond the call of duty,” he added. And, it seems, that just about every Cache Valley resident is doing the same.
In just 48 hours, spectators, volunteers, and the veritable army of construction and skilled workers have witnessed what the speed and power of community involvement is already accomplishing. The excitement continues to build to a crescendo which will certainly echo throughout Cache Valley on Sunday when the Pauni family’s new home is revealed.
Meanwhile, the community campaign continues. And, we know that Utah’s residents – proud of its number one rank in the nation for community service and volunteer efforts –continue to answer the call. There’s still time and remember every donation or service project, no matter how large or small, counts in the small valley with a big heart!
Thursday Evening
Television cannot possibly document all the hard work and dedication it takes to pull off such an incredible project.
The totally focused production and construction crews working round the clock may seem like super heroes but even super heroes have to eat. And to keep the crews going at “battle speed,” Cache Valley restaurants have donated plenty of food. The crews are fed four times a day and are never short of snacks.
An estimated three hundred people are fed breakfast, lunch, dinner and a 10 p.m. snack. And, between the meals, there are sandwiches. “We are doing everything we can to keep our crews happy and energetic,” Andi Saxton, director of food services, said.
On the site you will see volunteers constantly carrying around baskets of food and energy drinks to the workers. Volunteers also dutifully pick up what remains after a crowd of three hundred trumps in and out of the food tent four-plus times a day.
What we have seen behind the scenes is plenty of good old-fashioned Utah generosity. It seems almost impossible to explain the absolute scramble and rush of volunteers and workers. In this Logan neighborhood, everybody and everything is moving at Mach-like speed.
This spirit of generosity has infused everybody. A little girl came to the site as a spectator and asked where she could take her money. We looked down and this young girl had $400 in her hands! She said she sold plates of cookies around her neighborhood and we thought, wow, she must have sold a lot of cookies. The young contributor said, “Well, I charged fifteen bucks a plate for them.” A smart cookie! (pun definitely intended!)
It’s no longer just a housing construction project. With each hour, it is looking like a dream home, especially as a crew of young, energetic landscapers began their work this evening. The crowds seem to grow well into the evening hours. Two hundred fifty or three hundred spectators at any one moment is a conservative estimate. Even at 3 or 4 a.m., there is a hardy corps of 30 or so bystanders, eagerly absorbing this incredible metamorphosis. Even when one of the well-known designers walks by, the crowd erupts immediately into cheers.
Anyone who enters Cache Valley is instantly treated like family. And, when the community heard that it was Ty’s birthday, a birthday cake, balloons, and cards showed up at the construction site. Like we said before, everybody is always welcome in Cache Valley.
Please keep up the good work. Even as the weekend approaches, much is left to be done and let’s all of us stretch even a little more to help the well-liked Pauni family.

Wednesday, 18 October

wednesday's log from kartchnerhomes.com:

OK, loyal fans and many curious observers, here’s the scoop on the rapidly emerging Pauni home. It’s just past mid-afternoon, and – can you believe – it already looks like a home!Last night was clear and frosty but builders and volunteers worked around the clock working to pour the home’s foundation. Today, these builders – with so much to do in such a short time – are redefining the concept of multitasking. While one construction crew poured cement for the driveway, others put in the footings for the home’s framework.The ordinarily quiet street crackled with the energy of an entire town as trucks, bulldozers, cranes, spectators, volunteers, and scores of workers moved with excitement. It hardly seemed possible that workers even stopped for lunch or for a quick snack. But, the Pauni family returns Sunday and a new home will await them.The crowd speculated with one another about just how big this home will be as truck after truck hauled materials in for the new home’s frame. Many seemed satisfied at simply this wonderful exhibition of Cache Valley’s construction industry at its finest.Mea Harris, a close friend of the family, said this family is definitely deserving of a new home. She recalled that one daughter moved into the room of another daughter because pieces of the ceiling were falling down on her as she slept. Harris said the old Pauni home was literally falling apart. The family has been working so hard to pay off this home that each member of the family has been contributing their earnings to pay down the mortgage. Harris said the family would like to thank the community for all they have done; their hearts are full of gratitude.Volunteers and spectators were equally excited to be on the set of this incredible project. One volunteer said, “my granddaughter said I can’t leave until I get an autograph from Ty.”The best sight is a community coming together so quickly and from so many directions. If you get a chance, come to the site – when you’re here, remember all the work, materials, food, and time has been donated by your neighbors, friends, coworkers, colleagues, teachers, and students and just about everybody else in the valley. When we say – “A Community United to Build a Home” – we mean it! And, donations are being accepted round the clock (just look for the donation link on this website).“This is amazing!” Allison Furniss, a Utah State University public relations senior working on community relations for the project, said. “Yesterday, it was a house. Last night, it was a hole and, this afternoon, there are walls and concrete. We are witnessing the birth of a new home.”

Wednesday Evening
The Pauni home is going up quickly in just a matter of days, but we have learned that the construction progress over the last two days equals a month and a half’s worth of work! It is incredible what the force of community spirit can accomplish! Things are moving so quickly that if you turn your head, you might just have missed another wall going up.There have been about 150 workers working on the home at any one given time all day. Cranes are lifting the framework and placing it on the house, while trucks are backing out in and around the home. Amid the symphony of hammering and nailing sounds, these builders literally have hundred things going all at once.“Windows are in, and, within a couple of hours, the framing will be complete, and we have plumbing and electric work about to start,” said Troy Kartchner, builder and project head.A benefit concert was held at the Utah State University Spectrum, featuring musical guests Isaac Hayden, Ryan Shupe & the Rubberband and Polynesian dancers to honor the culture of the Pauni family. The concert was a great success – a big thanks to those who came to show their support. Each donation will lift a little weight off Janet Pauni’s shoulders as she tries to support her family of nine children.The concert had a cool vibe because you knew everyone was there because tonight they truly cared about a fellow Cache Valley neighbor and her family. T-shirts featuring a photo of the Pauni family and a list of all those who have been working to make the dream home a reality were a popular item at the show. Many put the shirts on immediately after purchasing them.It was a little chilly but the late afternoon sun didn’t stop concertgoers from enjoying a warm-up party juts outside of the Spectrum. Served like a tailgate, the party’s food and refreshments were donated and all proceeds will go to the family. The event was perfect for volunteers who did not have a chance to be involved directly at the construction site.Builders and volunteers will continue to work around the clock to stay on schedule. This is truly a unique event in Cache Valley so involve yourself any way you can, and be a part of this EXTREME experience. It may just change you life.Thanks, Cache Valley! Keep up the good work!

Tuesday, 17 October

Tuesday's log from kartchnerhomes. com:

Today, a good-sized Cache Valley crowd – in a sea of blue “Extreme Makeover: Home Edition” shirts and hard hats – answered the morning call at 7a.m. and stormed the site of the Pauni home. Loyal EMHE viewers know this as the “Braveheart” shot. You’ve seen it before but this moment always contains great emotion, as the community gathers behind leader and carpenter Ty Pennington, marching and cheering for the amazing home project to begin.Clearly, residents at the top of Utah were excited to help the Pauni family and even a bit more excited to see – you guessed it – Ty!Many people were touched as builder, Troy Kartchner of Kartchner Homes, gave a heartfelt speech. Troy said the real hero is not himself but rather the crowd surrounding him, willing and ready to help someone else’s dream come true. Immediately afterward, Ty gave his trademark shout out to the Pauni family, promising them that, come Sunday, they will have a home to be proud of and one that will make life a little easier. Ty directed the camera toward the crowd, showing family members – who are right now far away from the site – that their community is behind them.The demolition began immediately. Companies from Cache Valley, northern Utah, and southeastern Idaho have donated their materials, skill and their time to tear down this house and to build a magnificent replacement. Bulldozers quickly demolished the house as a parade of trucks hauled away the debris. Soon, the only remaining sign of the Pauni home was a cloud of dust that dissipated throughout the neighborhood as a steady crowd of onlookers watched the action. Before the last truck left the neighborhood, workers prepared for the marathon construction project that would start that evening.The Design Team – Ty Pennington, Ed Sanders, Preston Sharp, Tanya McQueen and Tracy Hutson – were all present for the demolition of the home, much to the delight of spectators. The crowd gathered just across the street from the site – expert “staro-meters” – knowing instantly when a design team member ventured close to the crowd. A couple of designers happily obliged eager fans with autographs, handshakes, and words of appreciation for their support and hospitality.Just as prevalent were representatives of the press – local and statewide – which proves that, even today, good news is always welcomed by readers and viewers.

Monday, 16 October

here is the daily recap for 10/16 on kartchnerhomes.com:

Day 2 of Extreme Makeover: Home Edition in Cache Valley brought a couple of pleasant surprises for local residents.
Extreme Makeover’s own Ed Sanders surprised students at Logan High and Adams Elementary during morning assemblies organized by the Utah State University’s team of public relations representatives for the popular ABC show. Ed charmed the enthusiastic students with his British accent and humor. It seemed to be the perfect touch as students received flyers and learned about the upcoming events that will celebrate Cache Valley’s community spirit and the well-deserved selection of the Pauni family.
Loyal fans know that Day 2 is the time to move out the family’s belongings in preparation for tomorrow’s demolition. An efficient and hard-working crew from Utah State University’s Latter-Day Saints Students Association accomplished that task in good form.
As spectators stood by anxiously awaiting the start of this once-in-a-lifetime dream home project and, of course, a few celebrities, a few patient fans were lucky enough when Extreme Makeover’s Preston Sharp stopped by to shake hands and chat for a few moments.
Cache Valley is a tight-knit community and considering the Pauni family has nine children and a hard-working mother who are well known and well liked, volunteers are stepping up from every corner of the valley, delighted to help make this dream come true. There are many great opportunities to share in this fantastic community experience so don’t hesitate to sign up today!

extreme makeover: home edition in logan! Sunday 15 October

hello there family and friends!

extreme makeover: home edition was i logan last week! what an exciting week! the abc team knocked on the pauni family's door on sunday october 15, 2006! my birthday! it was soooooo exciting! i wanted to share a little bit with you so i borrowed some info from kartchnerhomes.com! please check out the site! it is an amazing process!

here are some excerpts from the kartchner site:

"Pauni family members – all 10 of them – were pleasantly surprised this crisp fall morning when a knock from ABC’s Extreme Makeover: Home Edition at their door announced they had been selected out of five nominated families for a dream home project.
“The kids were so excited. They all ran to the door at once, and my little one got so squished in all the excitement that now he has a broken finger,” said Janet Pauni, mother of nine children.
The celebration was an emotional moment for Janet, who said, with tears welling up in her eyes, “it will be a lifetime change.”
The family handled quite well the barrage of questions from reporters who had gathered to get their reaction and the community’s to the famous “door knock” of the popular ABC show. One of the younger brothers said, “I don’t really care what I get. I just want my mom to have something nice.”
Another brother said, “I think this will be a big weight lifted off my mother’s shoulders. She has worked so hard. Without her, we would not be where we are today.”
It was unlike any other Sunday morning for the Pauni family. One of the brothers said, “Man, I’ve done like four interviews, isn’t that enough?” Being shy, however, was not an issue for the five-year-old Pauni brother, who gleefully busted out his dance moves for the crowds and the cameras.
The spirit of love and generosity warmed the cool morning at the Pauni home. The Kartchner Homes build team embraced each member of the Pauni family. Janet, the mother, was clearly moved, expressing her gratitude to every member of the build team.
After an unforgettable day, the family left Cache Valley this evening for a cruise, and will return on Sunday, Oct. 22 to their new home.
Like the Pauni family, friends, neighbors, associates, school children, and community members throughout Cache Valley are excited about this dream project and about the many upcoming events, volunteer opportunities, fundraisers, and community projects that will be a celebration of the love and generosity so apparent at this morning’s door knock. There are so many ways you can share this week’s excitement so don’t hesitate to sign up today!"

scrapbook expo!

hello there!

have i mentioned before that i love to scrapbook?! i must, because i had just gotten back from phoenix arizona- working at a ck convention only to turn around the next weekend and go to another one! this time i was there to scrap! i made 87 christmas cards and started on my "faces and places of logan" album!

what fun! thanks for the fun times barbi, sandy, leslie, emily, joann, tamera, tiffany and marley! what a crew we are! scraping til midnight and then up at 7am! wow!

can't wait till next year!

weekend!

i love weekends! i get to sleep in- usually- and be lazy all day long! i have a hard time getting out of bed during the week! i have to be at work most mornings at either 5am or 6am, so sleeping in until 8am is such a treat! (i never thought i would say that!) but on fridays i usually get up early- no problems... just cuz i know it is the first day of the weekend and i can get through work knowing that it is the last day of the week!

this weekend i am going with ann, my best friend, and her roommate to brigham city peach days! it will be so much fun! i love this kind of thing... you know... the local community festivities. in my home town growing up, ours was called "early settlers day". it was always helded in september and there was something going on all weekend. dances, good food, booths, and sidewalk sales. usually there was a parade and a big race on saturday morning!

fun! i can't wait! wahoo!

have a great weekend! peach days! here i come!

tonails...

hey! has anyone lost a toenail? well, i have lost two!

about 15 years ago my best friend, ann, and i were goofing around about something silly and she started to chase me. i couldn't get into my bedroom fast enough (the door was shut) and my toenail was caught on the door and my toe went under the door!

ouuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuch! i know that is what you are thinking!

well, it happened again! not exactly the same. this time i stubbed my toe on a box. a cardboard box no less! crazy! anyway.. ann was there to witness this one too. what a good friend she is! the best actually!

so... i have lost both nails off of my big toes! can anyone else say that?

have a good day you toenailed people!

Gilmore Girls!

ok... so i have a new passion! watching "gilmore girls"! i love the show! i had never watched it, but heard that it was a cute show, so i added it (season 1) to my netflix list! i am just finishing up the second season and i love it!

you have to watch it! what a good and uplifting show! sooooooooo very funny and entertaining!

the basic story line is a single mom and her teenage daughter... their friendship and struggles. it is set in connecticut, near hartford, in a little town where everybody knows everybody! the town characters are amazing and very funny as well.

i highly recommend this show. very cute!

jen

Is it September yet?

Hello there friends and family-

I just wanted to check in and say hello. Life is a little crazy right now. I really can't go into many details right now, but I will later.

Please know that I hope everyone is doing well and that your lives are fantastic!

Have a good day!

Jennie

the retreat!

hello there everyone!

i know that i have been back from my young women's retreat a couple of weeks, but i had to post all of the fun times that we had there!

ok... to remind you of what was going on. i am a teacher for the 16-18 year old girls in my ward. the class is called "laurels". so the retreat was entitled the "laurel retreat". ok... so fun! we went to manti, utah for the mormon miracle pageant that they have every year.
(http://www.lds.org/placestovisit/location/0,10634,1799-1-1-1,00.html) it truly is an amazing experience. i used to go there every summer with my family when i was a little girl. needless to say, i was pretty exctited to go back and share it with these beautiful girls.

only 3 out of our 7 girls were able to go: Whitney, Rachel and Ashlee. They are great girls and i was excited to get to hang out with them and the other leader, Barbi, for a couple of days. we were to meet at the church at 10:30 am on tuesday, 6/20. i had to run a couple of errands that morning and then pick up barbi on the way to the church. so i am crossing the street to go to the church and my truck dies. barbi and i look at each other and pray that we can cost the 1/2 block to the church! well, we made it to the parking lot and had to push it into a parking spot. when the girls saw that it had died they ran over and helped up push!

ok, so the trip is off to a great start! i was a little embarrased because all of the leaders and other girls were there, and here i am pushing my old 1980 chevy pickup into the parking lot! i just laughed it off, because i didn't want this to ruin my trip!

when we got on the bus, ashlee told me that we were going to adopt a girl into our group for the retreat. she had come by herself and didn't have any leaders either. so it was official, charlotte was part of the oakbrook ward, team oakbrook, as we began to call it.

the drive to manti was a 4 hour bus ride. we did stop once at cabellas in lehi, and that seemed to be one of the highlights for whitney. apparantly, cabellas is her favorite store ever! we could have stayed the 2 days there and i think she would have been thrilled. i was her partner on the bus, so she told me that i had to get a tour. ( i had never been there, so i guess i HAD to have the tour)

we were going to stay at snow college in ephraim, ut. our group(46 people total, including all of the girls, leaders and priesthood holders) had a set of dorms/apartments. luckily the apartments had 3 bedrooms and our "team oakbrook" was all able to stay together. we were sooooooooooooooo excited! we were jumping around and screaming! you would have thought that we won the lottery!

after checking into out apartment, and taking a group picture on the love sac, we got back on to the bus and went to manti. (about 7 miles) we went to the infamous "manti turkey" dinner. the church houses set up huge dinners to serve all those who come into town for the pageant.

the dinner was fantastic! we headed over to the temple grounds to save our seats. the stake leaders had lots of games lined up for us to play, so we crossed the street, got in the shade and started playing tons of big group games. we had about 3 hours to burn before the pageant started. after about 2 hours, they let us break into smaller groups and let us play games if we wanted to. we had learned this new game on the bus, called 31, so we played that on the grass until it was time to go over to the temple.

the pageant started at dark (around (9:45ish) and was absolutley amazing! it tells the history of the church and lets us follow one couple as they discover the teachings of Christ. this was truly a marvelous experience for all of us. each of the girls were touched by the spirit and the truthfulness of the gospel. what a testimony builder!

the pageant ended about 11pm and i was sooooooo tired. it had been a long day and i was looking forward to going back to the apartment, wind down and go to bed. i was so tired that i even fell asleep on the way back to ephraim- 7 miles!

when we got back to the apartment we all changed into our pj's and started playing games at the kitchen table. we played the cup game, table noise and 31. whitney wandered off to her room and we didn't want her to be by herself. so we all ended up with her in the room. some of us were on the 2 beds and some of us were on the floor. it was in this room that we began to solve the worlds problems. at least we thought so!

it became a great bonding time for all of us. a couple of lthe girls drifted off to sleep, and the rest of us started the "therapy". we had a great chat and became much closer as a group. it was a great night and we all had a great time! i think that it was the highlight of the trip for me!

well the therapy lasted until about 5 am. we were to be up by 7:30 and on the bus ready to go at 8:30! barbi, ashlee and charlotte went right to bed. rachel and i showered and whitney decided that she was going to stay up the whole time. i got into bed around 5:30 and set my alarm for 7:00. when i woke up at 7, no one was awake, so i crawled back into bed until about 7:30. by this time most of us were up. barbi had to go get our breakfast up in the stake leaders room. she went up in her pj's and all of the other leaders were already ready to go in there church dress. oops! i would have gone in my pj's too!

we almost made the 8:30 time frame. the girls looked beautiful! we all were in dresses, because they would be going to the temple later that morning. we rode the bus back into manti and met at the seminary building. we had the most spiritual devotional that i have ever been to! evan bingham was the speaker and i know for a fact that not only was every single person in that room was touched, but there were miracles that happened there that day. hearts were softened that would not have been otherwise. i know this. i know this. i know this.

after the devotional, everyone walked to the temple. i stayed behind because i was going to get together with my step-dad, bernie carroll. he lives in manti and i wanted to take this opportunity to see him. he picked me up and then went back to his house. it was good to see him. i didn't really recognize him at first, but then he would do something little that would totally be something that i remembered. we visited and he gave me that tour of his home. i had been there about 1 1/2 hours when barbi called and sayed that we were going to have lunch at the temple cafeteria and that i need to meet then in about 1/2 hour.

bernie and i finished our conversation and he drove me to the temple. it was good to see him and i am glad that i was able to use this time to see him again.

lunch at the temple was fun! we were all really tired and hungry so it was nice to relax and enjoy the great food! we then headed to the seminary building again for a closing testimony meeting. it was nice to be there again, but i was so tired and had the worst headache. it was hard to concentrate and i was glad when it was time to change our clothes and get on the bus to head home.

barbi and i had decided that we were going to sit together on the way home. we were going to sleep and we weren't going to let those silly girls distract us so that we couldn't! well, needless to say, all of the girls were able to sleep on the ride home. barbi and i did not! we were so loopy by that time that we couldn't sleep!

just to give you an examle, we were playing corners and barbi slid over and i wasn't paying attention. i went flying off of the seat and landed in the aisle of the bus on my bum! it was soooooooooooooooo funny! we laughed for a long time about that one! i don't think that our girls thought we were so funny!

i do have to say that we were probally the most roudy group on this trip. i don't think that it was a bad thing either. we all got along so well and enjoyed each others company!

kevin did fix the truck, but he didn't leave it at the church! so i had to walk home after all of that!

we finally got back home and i crashed for 16 hours! it was so good to sleep for that long! my body sure needed it!

that was my fun trip! thanks for letting me tell you all about it! love ya!
jen

Wow! It has been way too long since I last got on here. I am sorry for such a delay! We are doing really well. Life keeps us very busy, but we love it!

Kevin is still working away! He truly enjoys he free time though. Every extra moment he has he is usually playing his video games. He is just like a big kid! That is fun! Kevin is really wanting to take a vacation this summer. We are just trying to figure out when we can escape.

Sam moved out this week. He found a great studio apartment! He was ready for a change and a little more freedom! Apparently it is not cool to live in your sisters basement. Who knew?! It will be a good change for him. We miss having him here at the house, but he promised to come over every sunday for family dinner. I am looking forward to that!

I just got back from Manti, Utah. It is located smack-dab in the middle of the state. Every summer they host a pageant, telling the history of our church. I love this pageant. We used to go there every summer when I was growing up. My young womens group went there for a retreat. We stayed in the dorms at Snow College, located in Ephraim, about 7 miles from Manti. 3 of our 7 girls were able to go and then we "adopted" a girl from another ward that came by herself. It was sooooooooooooooooooooooooo much fun! The apartment that we stayed in at Snow was a 3 bedroom! Perfect for the two of us leaders and the 4 girls! Needless to say, we didn't get much sleep that night. Only 2 hours actually! Oh well, I would do it all over again- given the chance. Just give me a couple of days to recoup from this trip before I try it again!

We learned so much about each other, our testimonies of Christ, and ourselves. It was a great experience. The morning after the pageant, we had one of the most incredible devotionals given by a man who lives in Manti, Evan Bingham. He is the kind of teacher that has you laughing one minute and crying the next. The spirit was so incredible strong, I know that each girl was touched.

I did have the opportunity to visit with Bernie. I had not seen him in over 14 years. It was a short visit, but I am glad that I did. He seems to be doing well.

Overall, this was truly one of the greatest trips I have ever taken. It was an amazing experience and I am forever grateful that I was able to go. I want to give a huge thanks to Barbi, Whitney, Rachel, Ashlee and Charlotte. My experience would not have been the same without each of you. I heart you each!

jennie

May already?

Hello everyone!

i hope that all is well in your worlds! we are doing well. i just got back from nashville! it was so fun! i went for work (creating keepsakes magazine). we stayed at the opryland hotel! it was beautiful! and huge! i knew that there would be a problem when i checked in and they gave me a colored coded map with step by step instructions to my room!

i will going to manchester, nh next week! i am thrilled to go! i am flying out a few days early so i can spend time with my dad! i haven't seen him since last may, so it will be a good reunion!

kevin is doing well at his job. he is getting a little tired of the early mornings though. he has been saying the last couple of days that he wants to take a vacation. i sure wish i could take him with me to manchester.

sam is great! he started a new job today. he is working with metal/welding. he is so talented with that! his job is in franklin idaho. it might sound like it is far away, but it is only about 20 minutes away! he is glad to be working again.

tonight we had a young women activity for our church. it was so fun! we had a mother and daughter activity! we played a game kinda like the newlywed game. we asked the mothers and daughters questions to see how well they new each other. it was so coo! i am going to post pictures of everyone later.

love and hugs to you all! jen

Happy Spring!

Hello and Happy Spring!

What a beautiful day it is here in Logan! I love the spring! We have pulled out our summer clothes and are loving the sunshine! I do have to admit that I wore capris the other day and it decided to snow! I guess I was a little over-excited for the good weather!

We are doing well! Sam's Club keeps me on my toes! Our big inventory that was supposed to be the first part of June has now been moved to August! There are, of course, pros and cons to each date. Overall, I am glad that the date has been moved! It means that I will be able to go see my dad in May! This is good news!

Kevin is still enjoying his job. He recently hit his 90 day mark and has been able to benefit from a few perks, such as, getting gas at a discounted price. We are anxious to try one of the other perks too! Discounted Beef! It will be nice to get beef a bit cheaper than normal!

Sam is doing well. He is currently unemployed, but searching for another job that will be able to help him continue in the welding and machining field. He has been helping around the house and we have an arrangement for him to mow our lawn each week! He is awesome and we love having him here!

I have been traveling with Creating Keepsakes quite a bit the last month or so. Since March, I have been to Kansas City and St Louis. I will be flying to Nashville this next week. I am excited! We have a good time and work hard. I just wish I could take time off from Sam's Club too, it is really hard to have to go right back to Sam's Club the next day, after flying home.

I have been feeling the need to "Spring Clean". Each day I work a little bit on my scrapbooking room. I am hoping that I can get it looking awesome soon! I am really in the mood to scrapbook and I feel more creative in a clean space!

I am working on a few really fun projects. My big one is an album I am going to call "Places and Faces of Logan". This summer will mark my 10th year here, in Logan. I am doing this album in honor of this anniversary. It will include my old apartments, roommates, jobs, favorite restaurants and hangouts, friends and memories of the past 10 years. I am very very excited about it. I can't wait to get started.

I wish you each a happy day! Enjoy this beautiful time of year!

Love Ya! Jennie

Hello my family and friends!

i just wanted each of you to know how much you mean to me. i am so grateful for all of your love and support. this last few weeks i have been sick and have felt so helpless. it is during those down times in which i count my blessings.

i have so many things to be grateful for. i think that i am going to make a list of them today. i will post some on a later post. but, for now, please know that you are each on that list!

i love ya! jen

Hello family and friends!

I am sorry that I haven't written in so long! Life has been out of control the last few weeks! I have started traveling again with Creating Keepsakes! I have so much fun with my great friends there. It si too bad we only get to seen each other when we travel. I was in Kansas City last weekend and will be traveling to St. Louis next weekend! Kevin says that I am too busy, somedays I agree with him! :)

Sam's Club is also keeping me very busy. We will have our Big Club Inventory on 6 June. It means that I will be very focused at work in getting everything done so that we will have a good inventory! Wish me luck!

Kevin is doing great! He enjoys his job and keeps busy. He is usually playing PS2 every free moment that he has. He has been hinting that the new PS3 comes out in November and that he wants one! Kevin is truly a kid at heart and I love it!

Sam is good. He has made some good friends and is always hanging out with them. He stays busy and loves to be "out". He comes home occaisionally for a good home cooked meal (when i cook one!) and we love to spend time with him.

Well, that is our life in a nut shell, this week. Chat with you again soon1

Jen

hi there family and friends!

happy march! are you wearing green yet? you better start practicing or i will have to pinch ya!

i haven't written anything in a couple of weeks and i wanted to update everyone on the happenings of our wonderful life! :)

i am LOVING working with the young women in my ward! they are the best! last week was a very busy and fulfilling week! i attended a fantastic musical that one of our girls (avey) was in. it was soooo cute, called, "crazy for you". i highly recommend attending it! very entertaining! i was also able to attend the local high schools version of "the wind in the willows", where rachel was a mouse a wash woman and a gypsy! such talent! cute.

i think the highlight of the week was the high school girls basketball team going to the state playoffs! one of my girls, michelle, is a starter for the team and she did fantastic! we had our first game of the tournament on thursday night. my best friend, ann, and i went down to watch it. it was so exciting to watch! we lost, but then played again of friday morning and won! i was not able to attend the game on friday, but i did go down for the final game in ogden on saturday! we lost by 2 points, however, michelle was truly a star!

i never thought i would be so involved in each of these girls lives! but i truly love it! i am learning so much about myself by being around them! i think they give me the courage and strength to be the person i want to be "when i grow up"!

kevin is doing really well. he had to go to the doctor today, overall, doing great! he found out that he has lost over 40 lbs in the last year! way to go! i am very proud of him!

sam is loving his job and really enjoying his free time! he is doing great.

i have been working really early mornings all week, i get to "sleep in" tomorrow! i don't have to be to work until 5am! pretty sad that 5am is sleeping in! i am hoping that i will be able to go back to my normal shifts (6am) in the next couple of weeks! wahoo!

well, love to you all! leave me a little note! jen

Hello! Tonight I attended our High School Girls basketball game! It was sooo good! We won and now are going to state! I am so excited! I recently was called to be a teacher for the laurel class at church. This is the class for the 16-18 year old girls. They are great girls and i am thrilled to get to know them! One one of the girls is on the bb team and that is why i went to the game!

Things are going well for us this week. I finished up my Pampered Chef show and it was great! I was able to earn some free product and a few killer deals on the cookware that i wanted so bad! Wahoo!

Is anyone watching the Olympics? I love it! It is great to watch the different events. Of course, ice skating is my favorite! When the olympics were in Salt Lake City in 2002, Kevin and I were able to attend the women's freestyle skating competion. Sarah Hughes won the gold medal! It was the most amazing experience ever! My best friend, Ann, went with us too and we had a blast!

Well, I am going to head to bed pretty soon! I hope that everyone had a wonderful Valentines day! It is a day of Love! Love for family and friends! I love you all!

Hello our cute family and friends! Life is going well for us!

This past week one of my employees at work gave me his 2 week notice, so I have been interviewing lots of new people for the job. I hope that we are able to find a good replacement. We have our huge inventory coming up in June and I need a good team to get things done.

I also had a great Pampered Chef party this week. I have set a couple of goals to get the lifetime warrenty'd cookware at half price! I did it! My goal was met! wahoo! Needless to say, that will be my valentine's day, st patrick's day, april fools day, mother's day, cinco de mayo, father's day, 4th of July, pioneer day, memorial day, labor day and patriots day present! Kevin is trying to tell me that I don't get presents for most of these holidays! I told him, at least not this year! :)

Kevin and Sam are doing well. Busy, busy, busy! Aren't we all? hee hee!

Have a great day and thanks for stopping by! jen

Sam Carroll, Jennie and Kevin Little 2005

Another fun week has flown by and i can't believe it is done! February 2006 is here! wow! We are doing well and staying very busy! It seems as though i have something going on every night! What ever happened to those lazy evenings of watching my favorite reality shows! I hope that you are doing well and finding time to fit everything in that you need too.

ok- so i am not so good at the whole blog thing! i am trying to do better!

we are doing well! i just finished an out of control, crazy week! but i survived and that is what matters, right?

kevin is doing well. he is working at a meat packing plant! you know the kind that goes from live cow to boxes of hamberger? welcome to orientation! needless to say, he was craving beef for a little while!

sam, my brother, is doing great as well! he has a great job, just bought a sweet jeep and is happy! i am so glad that he is living with us! it has been awesome!

ok, that is the brief review! i promise i will do better!